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Residency Reflections: Building Clinical Skills in Med Surg Orthopedic Nursing
Med surg orthopedic nursing at Ochsner LSU Health provides a unique opportunity to grow both professionally and personally, as Darian Shelton’s story exemplifies. Through the Nurse Residency Program, Darian has found support, guidance, and countless opportunities to build her clinical skills while caring for patients with complex needs. From managing fractures to monitoring multiple systems in trauma patients, her role is both challenging and rewarding, allowing her to make meaningful connections with patients beyond their diagnoses.
Med surg nursing is a dynamic field that offers a front-row seat to the full spectrum of patient care needs, making it an ideal path for those eager to expand their expertise. For nurses looking to broaden their skillset while making a meaningful impact, few roles provide such rich opportunities for growth. Darian Shelton, an orthopedic med surg nurse at Ochsner LSU Health - Academic Medical Center in Shreveport, Louisiana, shares how working in this specialized area unlocks unique professional advantages and personal fulfillment.
Med surg nursing bridged Darian’s love of helping others with her desire for a career path that challenged her.
“I truly care for people and want to make them feel better, and nursing was really something that allowed me to do that and utilize my abilities to the fullest,” Darian said.
Since 2008, the Ochsner LSU Health - Academic Medical Center has been designated a Level I Trauma Center by the American College of Surgeons, making it the only hospital in the north Louisiana region that can provide the highest level of care for severely injured patients.
“We are just so much more than broken bones,” Darian said. “Many times, our patients have suffered from accidents, so we provide comprehensive care to the patient from fractures to head trauma wounds, cardiovascular complications and pre-existing conditions. We watch and monitor multiple body systems while a patient recovers.”
For Darian, building meaningful connections with her patients and understanding who they are beyond their diagnosis is a vital part of her role.
"Once patients reach me, they might be uncomfortable or in pain,” Darian said. “I talk with them and encourage them to share with me a little bit about their lives. That open communication makes them feel more comfortable, and it helps me to better care for them. It also helps me to know that they trust me.”
As a new nurse in the Ochsner LSU Health Nurse Residency Program, Darian feels empowered, supported and excited for the bright opportunities ahead as she begins her nursing career.
“I'm exactly where I want to be,” Darian said. “I'm getting so much experience right now with the type of patients that I'm seeing on the unit, and I’m learning so much from working with the seasoned nurses. Because I'm a new nurse, I have a lot of questions, and my fellow nurses are always willing to answer my questions and use those as teaching moments for me. I had such a great time with my preceptorship and my orientation, and I want to be able to pay that forward to newer nurses and start them off on the right foot like I was.”
Looking ahead, Darian is eager to grow with Ochsner, continuing to build her expertise and advance her nursing career with confidence and purpose.
“Over the next few years, I want to be right here with Ochsner,” Darian said. “Career advancement is very straightforward with Ochsner, so I know exactly the next steps that I need to take when I'm ready to make that advancement. I am excited for the opportunities that Ochsner has provided me.”
If you’re ready to take the next step in your nursing career, explore med surg positions at Ochsner LSU Health. Join a team that’s committed to excellence, teamwork and making a difference where it counts most.
